81st International Film Festival Venice

The INTERFILM Jury and companions in Venice 2024, from left: Barbara Schantz-Derboven, Stefan Haupt, Peter Ciaccio (INTERFILM Festival Delegate), Ingrid Glatz-Anderegg, Maddalena Brusca (film student), Naomi Evelyn Hondrea, Jes Nysten (President of the Jury)

© Gabi Marks

The INTERFILM Jury at the 81st Mostra internazionale d'Arte cinematografica in Venice has given the INTERFILM Award for the Promotion of Interreligious Dialogue to "Quiet Life" by Alexandros Avranas. The film's lead actor, Grigory Dobrygin, accepted the award plaque and certificate at the award ceremony on the terrace in front of the Palazzo del Casinò and conveyed the director's words of thanks. His message was: "Thank you to the INTERFILM jury for this incredible honor. I’m deeply grateful that "Quiet Life" has been recognized for promoting interreligious dialogue. The story of Sergei and Natalia reflects the struggles of countless refugees, and their fight to preserve hope in the face of despair. By sharing their journey, we aimed to inspire empathy and spark dialogue about the human condition, no matter our background or beliefs. Thank you to everyone who made this film possible. We hope it continues to resonate and encourage conversations that bridge divides."

Film still from "Quiet Life"

© Les films du Worso

The regulations of the prize state: "The award will support films which empower understanding, respect, sympathy and peace between people of different origins, histories and beliefs in place of conflict, violence, and suppression. Witnessing rising tensions and deep-rooted prejudice between religious groups in several regions of our world, INTERFILM intends the award to be a sign for the better: for sharing our hopes and our anxieties, for acknowledging the other as our neighbour, and for trusting in the power of artistic imagination to overcome suspicion and hostility."

Award ceremony at the terrace of the Palazzo del Casinò, from left: Peter Ciaccio (Festival Delegate and President of the Associazone protestante cinema "Roberto Sbaffi"), Barbara Schantz-Derboven, Karsten Visarius (Executive Director of INTERFILM), Grigory Dobrygin, Naomi Evelyn Hondrea, and Ingrid Glatz

© Gabi Marks

The INTERFILM Jury's award ceremony took place together with that of the Catholic SIGNIS Jury, which conferred its award to the Brazilian film "Ainda estou aqui" (I'm Still Here) by Walter Salles. The international festival jury, chaired by Isabelle Huppert, also awarded the film the prize for Best Screenplay, honouring the two authors Murilo Hauser and Heitor Lorega.

I'm Still Here (Walter Salles)

© Alile Onawale

The Golden Lion went to "The Room Next Door" by Pedro Almodóvar, starring Tilda Swinton and Julienne Moore. Silver Lions were awarded to the film "Vermiglio" by Mauro Delpero (Grand Jury Prize) and Brady Corbet for his film "The Brutalist" (Best Director Award), which was also honoured by the Jury of International Film Critics (Fipresci) as the best film in the International Competition. In the Orizzonti section, the critics' jury awarded its prize to the Romanian film "Anul nou care n-a fost" (The New Year that Never Came) by Bogdan Muresanu.

On 28 August, the 81st Venice Film Festival opened with Tim Burton's "Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice", the sequel to his 1988 horror comedy starring Micheal Keaton and Wynona Ryder. Director Peter Weir and actress Sigourney Weaver were honoured with an Honorary Golden Lion for their lifetime achievement. A jury appointed by INTERFILM awarded the INTERFILM Prize for the Promotion of Interreligious Dialogue for the 13th time to a film from the two competition sections Venezia 2024 and Orizzonti.

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Pedro Almodóvar with the Golden Lion at the Award Ceremony

© Anbdrea Avezzù, La Biennale di Venezia - Foto: ASAC